Newcastle Jets have missed out on the chance to close the gap on the top six in the A-League Men after being left frustrated in a goalless draw against Perth Glory at HBF Park.
Despite combining for 33 shots, neither team could find a way through in Wednesday’s stalemate, taking a point apiece.
Arthur Papas’ side will now prepare to head to Brisbane on Sunday while Glory, still bottom, go to Macarthur on the same day.
The Jets should have taken the lead in the 21st minute when Olivier Boumal forced debutant defender Aidan Coyne into a sloppy turnover and Beka Mikeltadze nipped in to steal the ball.
The Georgian promptly rounded keeper Liam Reddy but slid his open-goal effort across its face.
Ciaran Bramwell headed a Jack Clisby corner wide in the 26th minute for the hosts but Newcastle had the best of the opening half.
The Jets failed to actually test Reddy with a shot on target in the first 45 and then came within inches of going down six minutes into the second half.
Flicking on an Adrian Sardinero free-kick, Nick Fitzgerald wheeled away thinking he’d scored only for Jack Duncan to react quickly enough to tip it onto the post.
Lucas Mauragis and Fitzgerald had chances in the 63rd before Daniel Penha forced Reddy to get down to his left five minutes later.
Despite Glory’s improved second half and Penha’s late red card, the Jets came agonisingly close to scoring in the 94th minute only to be denied by desperate defending.
RE-LIVE: PERTH GLORY 0-0 NEWCASTLE JETS, AS IT HAPPENED
By Matt Comito for KEEPUP
93′: RED CARD! Penha dismissed in the dying moments (0-0)
It’s a dramatic end to proceedings at HBF Park, with Daniel Penha sent off for a high elbow on Colli which sparked a melee between the two sides.
89′: CHANCE! Stynes curls one wide as Glory substitute looks to prove the difference (0-0)
A curling shot off the left foot of Daniel Stynes went just wide of the mark in the 89th minute, as the home side bring youth off the bench in an attempt to find the energy needed to break the deadlock late on.
51′: CHANCE! Fitzgerald denied by superb Duncan save, Mikeltadze clearance (0-0)
How did that not go in?
Somehow, the Jets survive after Jack Duncan got across to save Nick Fitzgerald’s header from an Adrian Sardinero free-kick, tipping the ball onto the post.
The ball dropped across the goal line where Giordano Colli looked set to pounce – but Mikeltadze got a crucial touch, showing desperation in defence to keep his side on level terms.
46′: SECOND HALF UNDERWAY (0-0)
After surviving a barrage of Jets pressure in the first half, Glory will take confidence in the fact it remains 0-0 as the teams begin the second stanza.
Teenage Jets forward Archie Goodwin replaces Olivier Boumal at the break after scoring two goals in his first appearance of the season against Sydney FC last weekend.
43′: CHANCE! Mauragis goes close as Jets put the hammer down (0-0)
The Jets’ dominance of the opening 45 minutes continued towards the half-time whistle, with Lucas Mauragis firing a strike centimetres over the bar at the end of a spell of concerted Newcastle pressure on the Glory goal.
22′: Golden chance goes begging for Mikeltadze (0-0)
Aidan Coyne’s starting Perth debut almost descended into disaster as the young defender failed to put enough power on a back-pass to Glory keeper Liam Reddy.
Coyne left the door ajar for Beka Mikeltadze to swoop in, take possession and round Reddy. Albeit from a tight angle, the goal was virtually at the mercy of the Jets striker, but his shot dribbled past the post.
Paramount+ co-commentator Daniel Georgievski described the opportunity as “the miss of the season” in the aftermath.
18′: Visitors boss early proceedings (0-0)
Newcastle have enjoyed 74% of possession in the early stages at HBF Park.
1′: KICK-OFF (0-0)
The Jets look to continue their excellent run of form as play gets underway at HBF Park.
